Ohyeah...

As a side note...

• I DO have the back seats, i just took them off to reach my rear speakers
• I'm SORRY that my car is so dirty, i almost always keep her much cleaner than this

check this out...

Don't even ask how this happened...:rant2:...but is there anyone here from Houston, Texas and have a special preference for a wheel repair shop...?

 

Needs a drop, and those wheels are so-so. I can't say they look bad, but they're not great either. Other than that, it looks like a pretty decent 3G :yesway: I'm also jealous of the leather, and the 5-speed tranny!

 

Thanks! But hey, i can't complain. She came with the wheels. Better than stockers right?:dunno:

 

before custom work, i would fix the dents.....

 

Thanks for the tip! I was thinking that as well. Do you think i'm better off trying to fix them myself, or would it be better to leave it to the professionals? Remember, i'm still in high school with a high school budget, but i am willing to forth the time and deidication to do anything myself.

 

I'd fix all the cosmetic damage before I dropped a dime on aftermarket shit. Throw that license plate border in the trash. On a positive note, once you clean it up and drop it, she'll look pretty damn good with the 19s.

 

Thanks man! I needed that boost of confidence. Now my main focus is on cleaning up all the road rash. Just because she is a 9 year old car doesn't mean she has to look it, right? Problem is, do i do it myself, or by shop?

Currently searching for info...

 

Since it's an older car, I would highly recommend spending a good day going over the whole thing with a claybar, then a two to three step cleaner/polish/wax. Zaino would probably be overboard, but I would go spend a good 50 bucks at an auto shop on a full series of Meguirs stuff. It'll make what is left of the paint smooth and the car will look much better.

Since you are a new car owner, I am sure this doesn't need to be said, but take your time and do things right the first time. A good job by hand (If you don't have a buffer) will take the better part of a weekend.

Some other quick little tips would be to pop out the fake vents and paint those things black instead of the weathered gray. Also, grab some high temp engine paint and paint the calipers. I like the understated look, so black would make them look better but not stand out like a sore thumb.

Personally, once done with that I would say on the top of your list should be a drop. It'll help the look of the car and will handle much better then stock, even with something as simple as the KYB/AGX combo. Tint would be another thing that will really make a car look better. Search around for a used AEM WAI. It's strictly performance, but it should be an automatic upgrade on this car no matter what. As for the dents, I would definitely try to see if you can get the big one on the driver's side fixed since that one really stands out.

Search and be a browser of the For Sale forum, you can find stock speakers for next to nothing. In the almost ten years I have owned my car, damn near everything I have bought has been used off this club for some deep discounts.

Phew, that was a novel and a half.

 

Yeah, i agree with you totally. I was going to paint my fake vents just last weekend, right? But once in the check out lane, they ask for my id. Appearantly i have to be over 18 to buy spray paint...:squint: i didn't know that, so now have to get someone else to buy it for me. (including caliper/valve cover paint)


As for the WAI, why do you prefer that over the CAI? Just wondering...

Yeah, that is the worst dent. I'll fix that one first.

Thanks for the tip, i'll be sure to check out the For Sale forum. I never even though about that.

 

Welcome Sam, & good luck with your projects!

 

Thanks! I'm gonna need all the motivation i can get!

 

ok, i have had a better chance to go over your pics (you have many pics and if you are actually looking for ideas/things we notice, that helps alot) here are my conclusions:

the dings/dents: get a shop's quote. you might be able to get it right yourself, you might not.. and it will still need painted. but i WOULD hit those bare spots of metal (like behind the driver's door) with some touchup paint (you can get it at advanced auto, like nail polish) ASAP. you wouldn't want to have to deal with rust now would you?

how come in your gauge pic... the air bag, and check engine lights are not on?

either you car was not running during the pic, and you got problems that were hidden by bulb removal (damn rippoff artists), or your car was running.. and you have a lot of problems.

the cracked dash: welcome to the club.. it sucks and happens to all our cars.

i will recommend a nice CAI, or WAI(short ram) intake, to be first thing you do (after fixing the aforementioned problems). cheap, easy, and you get a sweeter sound, and actually a slight performance boost. (it was the first thing i did, and am more than happy).

oh, and is it just me or do the fog lights both point inward....?

 

ok, i have had a better chance to go over your pics (you have many pics and if you are actually looking for ideas/things we notice, that helps alot) here are my conclusions:

the dings/dents: get a shop's quote. you might be able to get it right yourself, you might not.. and it will still need painted. but i WOULD hit those bare spots of metal (like behind the driver's door) with some touchup paint (you can get it at advanced auto, like nail polish) ASAP. you wouldn't want to have to deal with rust now would you?

how come in your gauge pic... the air bag, and check engine lights are not on?


either you car was not running during the pic, and you got problems that were hidden by bulb removal (damn rippoff artists), or your car was running.. and you have a lot of problems.

the cracked dash: welcome to the club.. it sucks and happens to all our cars.

i will recommend a nice CAI, or WAI(short ram) intake, to be first thing you do (after fixing the aforementioned problems). cheap, easy, and you get a sweeter sound, and actually a slight performance boost. (it was the first thing i did, and am more than happy).

oh, and is it just me or do the fog lights both point inward....?

WOW! You scared me when you mentioned my gauge lights. No worries, my car was not running in the pic. A few seconds after having the key in the ignition (but not starting the car), the SRS, ANTI-LOCK, and SERVICE ENGINE lights all turn off.

I'll definitely look into that touch-up paint. Thanks for the tip. Rust would be a bummer...

As i wrote in my bio, i knew about the cracked dash before buying the car. I'm just merely posting pics so people can compare their car to mine.

Yeah, i'm thinking about the CAI. I can't wait :ndance:

I think it's just you...my fog lights are centered. But hey, i just might be crazy.

 

it looks really good congrats on the purchase my eclipse was my first car I bought on my own to


the mods i would recommend are definitely a drop and some window tint after that the cold air intake, but definitely keep it clean


and welcome to Club3G

 

Thanks! I'll definitely look into those as must-do mods in the future.

 

congrats and good luck. youve got a lot of work on your hands.

 

Thanks! I'm looking forward to it

 

looks like you got alot of work to do

 

Yeah, but i know i'll make it with the help of everyone here

 

My bumper wasn't that bad, but I took a clay bar and some scratch x to it. Doesn't fix it completely, but looked better afterwards.

 

Now that i look back, i didn't picture the deep gash in the bumper. Am i better off replacing the whole plastic thing? (Which i was gonna do so i could debadge it and have have a bumper with no license plate holder holes) Only 50 bucks for a new bumper from a local shop...what do i do? :dunno:

 

Looks ok for a stocker. Just clean it up and fix up the minor things THEN get some springs, :lol:

 

Thanks for the tip. But as you can see, all these LITTLE things have added up to become a BIG project for the summer. LOL :wallbash:

 

What made you decide on the name "Tina?"

Just curious haha.

 

Hehe.

1) Always liked the name for a girl.

and another reason, one which my friends ALWAYS try to say as to why i named my car that (a reason that i decree as false), is that because...

2) i had a girlfriend whose nickname was Tina.

She was a great girl, and still remains as someone who i still describe as "the one that got away" :facepalm:

 

TINA YOU FAT LARD, COME GET SOME DINNER



you have a LOT of cleaning up to do :lol: Not much I can say that hasn't already been said, but good luck on whipping it back in to shape. Post up pics after a good weekend of that.

 

Thanks lol. A little bit of elbow grease never hurt anyone, right? :lol:

 

if you can get a new bumper for 50 bucks, that is a good price. but, looking at it, you NEED the front license plate. i am not a fan of the license plate wedged in somewhere look. and what big gash? i am not seeing it.

 

No, i mean like a new bumber with no pre-drilled holes. Should i get a new bumper, that is painted to match, so i can achieve a look like this:

Just painted the fake vents today. 3 layers of black with 2 layers of clear. Will post pictures tomorrow

Will also include pics of the gash as well. (and to be honest, it's more of just a BIG scratch than a gash)

 

UPDATED FUTURE MOD LIST!

CHECK IT OUT =)

Mod currently working on: cleaning out the AC filter...SO MY FLOORBOARDS DON'T GET SOAKED EVERYTIME I USE THE AC!!!! :rant:

 

Damn thats a dirty car haha JK. Welcome and GL.

 

THANKS!

....w...wa...WAIT! :lolspit:

WTF?!?!

JK.

Thanks :fawk:

 

Welcome to club3g. Where are you in Texas???

I say just let the dings and dents be. You are 16 right? There will be more soon enough. That is just how it is when you are young.

I would make your first mods just maint items so the car runs good and is dependable. Suspension and brakes are also a good starting point too if it makes the car easier/safer to drive.

Good luck!

 

FINALLY!!! PICTURES HAVE ARRIVED!!!

Freshly painted fake vents!

The reason why i want to get a new bumper...(deep gash)

If you look closely, you can see the effects of the hole in my driver side fog light. (water and debris have turned it slightly yellow )

 

ahhh the vent paint. the simplest and cheapest exterior upgrade. looks good.

 

thanks!

I hope i have the same success with my many other projects

 

Good job refreshing the vents. I probably should go redo mine. Have you thought about buying some smoked front corners? That would look way better than orange.

 

Yeah, that's a definite mod i'm gonna look into doing.

Thanks for reminding me. I'll update my future mod list.

 

personally when i did it (the smoked turns) i got the turns and clear reverse lights, for 80 bucks on ebay. and i am very happy with them.

 

Just completed my first DIY oil change! :ndance:


all thanks to the Club 3G How-To: Oil Change

http://www.club3g.com/forum/maintenance/98835-how-change-engine-oil.html

Thanks guys!

 

Also, i am experiencing the same problem as other owners of the 2000-01 3G Eclipse's. My floorboard end up soaking wet whenever i use the AC. I took out my console to access the evaporator pan, and cleaned out all the debris.

And boy, was there A LOT of debris.

Gonna ride around today and see if that solves my drainage problem. Once again, thanks again to all the Club 3G contributers who draw out all these procedures.

http://www.club3g.com/forum/problem-reports/114874-common-3g-problems.html

 

Yeah, my floorboard is soaked. I really need to get down under there and clean. I wonder how I could dry the carpet though.

 

shopvac will do most of it. the rest can just be air dried then.